Medical system architecture and method for exchanging messages

ABSTRACT

In a medical system architecture and a message exchange method at least one modality is provided to acquire examination images, computer workstations are associated with the respective modalities to process the examination images, a device is provided to transfer data, the examination images, and messages between client applications and server applications, and a storage device is processed for the data and examination images, and further computer workstations are provided for post-processing of the data and examination images. A proxy server is associated with the data transfer device that effects a conversion of the messages between client applications and server applications according to established transformation rules. The contents of those messages are manipulated in the transfer thereof according to the aforementioned transformation rules, by a conversion routine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention concerns a medical system architecture ofthe type having at least one modality to acquire examination images,computer workstations associated with the respective modalities toprocess the examination images, a device to transfer data, theexamination images, and messages between client applications and serverapplications, a storage device for the data and examination images, andfurther computer workstations for post-processing of the data andexamination images, as well as a method to exchange messages betweennodes of a network.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] From the book “Bildgebende Systems für die medizinischeDiagnostik”, published by H. Morneburg, 3rd edition, 1995, pages 684 etseq., medical system architectures, called PACS (Picture Archival andCommunication Systems) are known in which image treatment stations andimage processing stations (what are known as workstations) are connectedwith one another via an image communication network for retrievingpatient data and images generated by one or more imaging modalities. Theimages are retrieved by experts via these workstations.

[0005] In the operation of such systems, the following technicalproblems arise:

[0006] a) DICOM compatibility problems during network communicationbetween DICOM nodes, both forwards, backwards and with products fromother producers, must be generically resolved as well as in the contextof specific architecture configurations.

[0007] New systems must take into account how old systems (legacysystems) or other products behave. Therefore, expensive “patches” andmuch test expenditure are needed.

[0008] b) Maintaining anonymity of patient data and othersecurity-relevant requirements, must be solved for specificconfigurations without changes in the existing DICOM products.

[0009] The anonymity protection must be incorporated by fixed codinginto the products today.

[0010] c) “DICOM Messages” from and to purchased simulators and testinstruments can not be customized so as to be specific to the customerat runtime (on the fly), for example an HIS/RIS simulator can fill DICOMfields with zeros, but cannot forward empty fields, however old systemssend unknown fields as empty fields.

[0011] This is only remedied by the development of expanded simulatorinstruments, or special versions for test instruments.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] An object of the invention is to provide a medical systemarchitecture of the type initially described, as well as a comparableoperating method, wherein an easy adaptation is achieved in a simplemanner to a variety of factors and requirements dependent upon, forexample, different components, which may originate from differentproducers.

[0013] The object is inventively achieved in a system of the typeinitially described wherein the device to transfer data, examinationimages, and messages is associated with a proxy server that effects aconversion of the messages between client applications and serverapplications according to predetermined transformation rules. Thenetwork detects the messages between two nodes, manipulates the contentaccording to configurable roles, and subsequently forwards the message.

[0014] In an advantageous manner, the proxy server can operate accordingto the DICOM standard in the exchange of data, examination images, andmessages.

[0015] Storage of the transformation rules can be inventively associatedwith the proxy server.

[0016] It has proven to be advantageous for the proxy server to be aseparate software application.

[0017] The proxy server can inventively run on the same node or on anetwork node.

[0018] The object also is inventively achieved in a method of the typeinitially described wherein the content of the messages is manipulatedin their transmission by means of a conversion routine according totransformation rules, in the exchange of the messages between clientapplication and server application.

[0019] The applications can be DICOM applications.

[0020] It has proven to be advantageous for the transformation rules tobe configurable, such that an easy adaptation to the most variedconditions and requirements can be achieved.

[0021] The conversion of messages can be inventively implemented via aproxy server that accesses stored transformation rules, so thereception, the manipulation, and the forwarding of the messages aretransparent for the DICOM nodes.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022]FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an example of a systemarchitecture of a hospital network.

[0023]FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a known communication between aDICOM client application and a DICOM server application.

[0024]FIG. 3 schematically illustrates the inventive communicationbetween a DICOM client application and a DICOM server application.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] As an example, the system architecture of a hospital network isshown in FIG. 1. The modalities 1 through 4 that, as image generatingsystems, serve to acquire medical images, can be, for example, acomputed tomography apparatus 1, a magnetic resonance apparatus 2, a DSAapparatus 3 for digital subtraction angiography, and an x-ray unit 4 fordigital radiography. Operator consoles (workstations) 5 through 8 of themodalities, with which the acquired medical images can be processed andlocally stored, are connected to these modalities 1 through 4. Patientdata belonging to the images is also entered via the consoles 5 through8.

[0026] The operator consoles 5 through 8 are connected with acommunication network 9 (serving as a data transfer device) formed as aLAN/WAN backbone to distribute the generated images and forcommunication (data and messages). For example, the images generated inthe modalities 1 through 4 and the images further processed in theoperator consoles 5 through 8 can be stored in central image storagesystems and image archiving systems 10, or forwarded to otherworkstations.

[0027] Further viewing workstations 11 are connected to thecommunication network 9, as searching consoles that have local imagestorage. Such a viewing workstation 11 is, for example, a very fastminicomputer based on one or more fast processors. In the viewingworkstation 11, the images that are filed in the image archiving system10 can be subsequently called for a search and filed in the local imagestorage, from which they can be immediately available to the searching(reviewing) person working at the viewing workstation 11.

[0028] Furthermore, servers 12, for example patient data servers (PDS),file servers, program servers, and/or EPR servers are connected to thecommunication network 9.

[0029] The image exchange and data exchange over the communicationnetwork 9 ensue according to DICOM standard, an industry standard totransfer images and further medical information between computers, withwhich a digital communication between diagnosis devices and therapydevices of different producers is possible. A network interface 13 canbe connected to the communication network 9, via which the internalcommunication network 9 is connected with a global data network, forexample the World Wide Web, such that the standardized data can beexchanged worldwide with different networks.

[0030] An RIS server and/or a KIS server 14 can be connected to thecommunication network 9, with which the operator consoles 5 through 8communicate by means of the communication network 9 via TCP/IPprotocols.

[0031]FIG. 2, a conventional communication between an application 15 ona DICOM client (for example on one of the modalities 1 through 4) and anapplication 16 on a DICOM server (for example on the server 14) isschematically shown. In a first connection, a number of messages 17 areexchanged that proceed directly from the DICOM client to the DICOMserver and back.

[0032]FIG. 3 shows an inventive communication between a clientapplication 15 and a server application 16. The messages 17 from theDICOM client to the DICOM server and back are first supplied to a proxyserver 18 that converts them with transformation rules stored in amemory 19.

[0033] The proxy server 18 is a component that administers the datatraffic in the internet for a local network (LAN).

[0034] This proxy server 18 can be a separate software application. Itcan run on the same node or on a network node. It is rule-based and canbe configured very dynamically. It is semantic-free.

[0035] The data in the communication network 9, the content of which ismanipulated according to configurable rules, is acquired between theDICOM nodes by the proxy server 18 and subsequently forwarded to thereceiver. The receipt, the manipulation, and the forwarding is totallytransparent for the DICOM nodes, analogous to an HTTP proxy.

[0036] The manipulation is highly robust due to the use of the powerful“Regular Expression Pattern Matching” algorithm, that originates fromthe mathematician S. Kleene and, for example, is specified in the book“Mastering Regular Expressions. Powerful techniques for Perl and othertools” by Jeffrey E. F. Friedl. It is used in order to specify samplesof strings clearly and with a strong algebraic basis. The “RegularExpression” samples are factored out in configuration files. Notransmission of the source codes is necessary in order to reprogram theproxy.

[0037] The medical system architecture according to the invention isdistinguished itself by the following developments:

[0038] Transparent proxy between an older generation of DICOM-basedproducts and a new product.

[0039] Transparent proxy between DICOM products of various producers orinterpretations.

[0040] Security firewall to other networks or DICOM nodes.

[0041] Expansion of DICOM simulators or interoperability testinstruments.

[0042] Abbreviations used in the specification: DICOM Digital Imagingand Communications in Medicine DICOM standard is an industry standard totransmit images and further medical information between computers toenable the digital communication between diagnosis devices and therapydevices of different producers. EPR Electronic Patient Record(Electronic Patient File) HIS Hospital Information System (KIS)(Krankenhaus Information System): System for general hospitalmanagement, with the main features of patient management, bookkeeping,accountancy, personal management and so forth. HTTP Hypertext TransferProtocol defines the access of clients (for example web browsers) toinformation-stored server-side on the World Wide Web. HTTP defines howmessages are formatted and transferred, and which actions web server andweb browser should implement as reply to various instructions. LAN LocalArea Network A local network that comprises a group of computers andother devices, that are distributed over a relatively limited area andconnected via communication lines, that enable the interaction of everydevice with every other device in the network. PACS Picture Archival andCommunication System: computer-aided image information systems tooptimize patient care, operating sequence in the radiologicaldepartment, image distribution in the hospital, image supply forresearch and teaching, and image archiving. RIFS (Radiology InformationSystem): Information system for data management within the radiologydepartment, that, for example, aids patient admission, the creation ofwork lists, reporting, report management, bookkeeping, and accounting,and so forth. TCP/IP Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol Theprotocol for the communication between computers is integrated into theoperating system UNIX and is a de facto standard for data transmissionover networks, including the Internet. WAN Wide Area Network Acommunication network to connect regions geographically very separate. Awide area network can comprise a plurality of local networks. An examplefor a wide area network is the Internet.

[0043]

I claim as my invention:
 1. A medical system architecture comprising: atleast one imaging modality that acquires medical examination images; acomputer workstation associated with said at least one imaging modality;a data transfer device for transferring data and messages and saidmedical examination images between at least one client and at least oneserver; a storage device connected to said data transfer device forstoring at least said medical examination images; at least one furthercomputer workstation connected to said data transfer device forpost-processing said data and said examination images; and a proxyserver in communication with said data transfer device for convertingsaid messages between said at least one client and said at least oneserver according to predetermined transformation rules.
 2. A medicalsystem architecture as claimed in claim 1 wherein said data transferdevice exchanges said data, examination images and messages according tothe DICOM standard.
 3. A medical system architecture as claimed in claim1 comprising a rules memory, accessible by said proxy server, whereinsaid transformation rules are stored.
 4. A medical system architectureas claimed in claim 1 wherein said proxy server comprises a softwareproduct separate from said data transfer device.
 5. A medical systemarchitecture as claimed in claim 1 wherein said proxy server operates ata same system node as said data transfer device.
 6. A medical systemarchitecture as claimed in claim 1 wherein said proxy server operates ona network node.
 7. A method for exchanging messages between nodes of anetwork, comprising the steps of: formulating messages at a firstlocation which are to be transmitted to another location via a network,each of said messages having a content; and manipulating the respectivecontents of said messages during transmission of said messages in saidnetwork using a computerized conversion routine employing predeterminedtransformation rules.
 8. A method as claimed in claim 7 comprisingexchanging said messages between a client and a server connected to saidnetwork.
 9. A method as claimed in claim 7 comprising formulating saidmessages according to the DICOM standard.
 10. A method as claimed inclaim 7 comprising selectively reconfiguring said predeterminedtransformation rules as needed.
 11. A method as claimed in claim 7comprising storing said predetermined transformation rules in a rulesmemory, and executing said conversion routine to manipulate therespective contents of the messages in a proxy server having access tosaid rules memory.
 12. A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein saidnetwork comprises a plurality of DICOM nodes, and wherein the step ofmanipulating the respective contents of said messages comprisesmanipulating the respective contents of said messages in a mannertransparent to said DICOM nodes.